Glossary of Grammatical Terms

Glossary of Grammatical Terms 1
Glossary of Grammatical Terms
ACCORD (m.) (AGREEMENT) There is agreement when a word takes
the gender and the number of another word it modifies. Articles and
adjectives agree with the noun they modify, as do past participles of
verbs conjugated with être.
C’est une femme indépendante.
She is an independent woman.
Elles sont arrivées à temps.
They arrived in time.
ANTÉCÉDENT (m.) (ANTECEDENT) A word, usually a noun, that
is replaced by a pronoun in the same or a subsequent sentence. In the
example, Jeanne is the antecedent of elle, and un gant is the antecedent
of le.
Jeanne a perdu un gant et elle ne le retrouve
plus.
Jeanne lost a glove, and she can’t find it
anymore.
Adverbe interrogatif (Interrogative adverb) An adverb that intro-
duces a question about time, place, manner, or quantity (amount).
ADVERBE (m.) (ADVERB) A word that describes an adjective, a verb,
or another adverb.
Combien ça coûte?
How much is it?
Quand est-ce que vous partez?
When are you leaving?
Il écrit très bien. Elle est plus efficace.
He writes very well. She is more efficient.
Adjectif qualificatif (Descriptive adjective) An adjective that speci-
fies size, color, or other qualities.
ADJECTIF (m.) (ADJECTIVE) A word that describes a noun or a pro-
noun. It agrees in number and gender with the word it modifies.
Adjectif interrogatif (Interrogative adjective) An adjective used to
form questions.
Elles sont intelligentes.
They are smart.
C’est une grande maison.
It’s a big house.
Quelles affiches cherchez-vous?
What posters are you looking for?
Quel livre?
Which book?
COMPARATIF (m.) (COMPARATIVE) The form of adjectives and
adverbs used to compare two nouns or actions.
Léa est moins bavarde que Julien.
Léa is less talkative than Julien.
Elle court plus vite que lui.
She runs faster than he does.
ARTICLE (m.) (ARTICLE) A determiner that sets off a noun.
Article défini (Definite article) An article that indicates a specific
noun.
Article démonstratif (Demonstrative article) An article that points
out a particular noun.
Article indéfini (Indefinite article) An article that indicates an
unspecified noun.
Article partitif (Partitive article) In French, an article that denotes
part of a whole. Some is not always expressed in English, but the
partitive is almost always expressed in French.
Article possessif (Possessive article) An article that indicates
possession or a special relationship.
le pays, la chaise, les femmes
the country, the chair, the women
ce garçon, ces livres
this boy, these books
un garçon, une ville, des carottes
a boy, a city, some carrots
du chocolat, de la tarte, de l’eau
(some) chocolate, (some) pie, (some) water
leur voiture, ma sœur
their car, my sister
and35435_online.indd Page 1 14/12/10 4:33 PM user-f494and35435_online.indd Page 1 14/12/10 4:33 PM user-f494 /201/MHSF200/and35435_disk1of1/0073535435/and35435_pagefiles/201/MHSF200/and35435_disk1of1/0073535435/and35435_pagefiles

2 Glossary of Grammatical Terms
GENRE (m.) (GENDER) In French, there are two genders: feminine
and masculine. This distinction affects the forms of nouns, articles,
adjectives, and pronouns.
masc. fem.
articles and nouns le DVD la vidéo
adjectives lent, beau lente, belle
pronouns il, celui elle, celle
IMPARFAIT (m.) (IMPERFECT) In French, a verb tense that expresses
a past action with no specific beginning or end.
Nous nagions souvent.
We used to swim often.
IMPÉRATIF (m.) (IMPERATIVE)See Mode.
INDICATIF (m.) (INDICATIVE)See Mode.
INFINITIF (m.) (INFINITIVE)See Mode.
LIAISON (f.) (LIAISON) The pronunciation of a normally silent final
consonant (typically -n, -s, -t, and -x) before a word beginning with a
vowel or vowel sound. Word-final -s and -x are pronounced as [z].
C’est
(
un
(
animal.
[s
´ tœ˜ nanimal]
aux
(
États-
(
Unis
[ozetazyni]
ÉLISION (f.) (ELISION) The replacement of the final vowel of a word
by an apostrophe before the initial vowel or vowel sound of the following
word.
Il arrive à l’université à 8 h.
He arrives at the university at 8:00.
J’ai compris qu’il reviendrait.
I understood that he would come back.
CONTRACTION (f.) (CONTRACTION) Two words combine to form
one. In French, this occurs when à and de precede the definite articles le
and les.
Ils parlent aux étudiants.
He’s talking to the students.
C’est le livre du professeur.
It’s the teacher’s book.
CONJONCTION (f.) (CONJUNCTION) An expression that connects
words, phrases, or clauses.
Christophe et Diane
Christophe and Diane
Il fait froid, mais il fait beau.
It’s cold, but nice.
CONJUGAISON (f.) (CONJUGATION) The different forms of a verb
for a particular tense or mood. A present indicative conjugation:
je parle I speak
tu parles you speak
il/elle/on parle he/she/it/one speaks
nous parlons we speak
vous parlez you speak
ils/elles parlent they speak
CONDITIONNEL (m.) (CONDITIONAL)See Mode.
and35435_online.indd Page 2 14/12/10 4:33 PM user-f494and35435_online.indd Page 2 14/12/10 4:33 PM user-f494 /201/MHSF200/and35435_disk1of1/0073535435/and35435_pagefiles/201/MHSF200/and35435_disk1of1/0073535435/and35435_pagefiles

Glossary of Grammatical Terms 3
NOM (m.) (NOUN) A word that denotes a person, place, thing, or idea.
Proper nouns are capitalized names.
avocat, ville, journal, Louise
lawyer, city, newspaper, Louise
MOT APPARENTÉ (m.) (COGNATE) In two languages, words spelled
similarly with similar meaning.
état, sérieux, ordre
state, serious, order
NOMBRE (m.) (NUMBER) Distinction between singular and plural
that affects the forms of nouns, articles, adjectives, or pronouns.
Nombre cardinal (Cardinal number) A number that expresses an
amount.
Nombre ordinal (Ordinal number) A number that indicates
position in a series.
singular: Le fromage est bon.
plural: Les fromages sont bons.
deux bureaux, quatre ans
two desks, four years
le deuxième bureau, la quatrième année
the second desk, the fourth year
MODE (m.) (MOOD) A set of categories for verbs indicating the attitude
of the speaker toward what he or she is saying.
Mode conditionnel (Conditional mood) A verb form conveying
possibility.
Mode impératif (Imperative mood) A verb form expressing a
command.
Mode indicatif (Indicative mood) A verb form denoting actions or
states considered facts.
Mode infinitif (Infinitive mood) A verb form introduced in English
by to. In French dictionaries, this form appears as the main entry.
Mode subjonctif (Subjunctive mood) A verb form, uncommon in
English, used primarily in subordinate clauses after expressions of
desire, doubt, or emotion. French constructions with the subjunctive
have many possible English equivalents.
J’irais, si j’avais le temps.
I would go if I had time.
Allez-y!
Go ahead!
Je vais à la bibliothèque.
I am going to the library.
jouer, vendre, venir
to play, to sell, to come
Je veux que vous y alliez.
I want you to go there.
J’ai peur qu’elle dise non.
I’m afraid she will say no.
PARTICIPE PASSÉ (m.) (PAST PARTICIPLE) The form of a verb used
in a compound tense (such as the passé composé) with forms of to have
in English, and with avoir and être in French.
mangé, fini, perdu
eaten, finished, lost
PRÉPOSITION (f.) (PREPOSITION) A word or phrase that specifies
the relationship of a word (usually a noun or a pronoun) to another.
The relationship is usually spatial or temporal.
près de l’aéroport, avec lui, avant 11 h
near the airport, with him, before 11:00
PERSONNE (f.) (PERSON) The form of a pronoun or a verb that indi-
cates the person involved in an action.
singular plural
1st pers. je / I nous / we
2nd pers. tu / you vous / you
3rd pers. il, elle, on / he, ils, elles / they
she, one, it
PASSÉ COMPOSÉ (m.) In French, a verb tense that expresses a past
action with a definite ending. It consists of the present indicative of the
auxiliary verb (être or avoir) and the past participle of the conjugated
verb. There are several equivalent forms in English.
J’ai mangé
I ate, I did eat, I have eaten
Elle est tombée
She fell, she did fall, she has fallen
and35435_online.indd Page 3 11/01/11 3:07 PM user-f469and35435_online.indd Page 3 11/01/11 3:07 PM user-f469 /201/MHSF200/and35435_disk1of1/0073535435/and35435_pagefiles/201/MHSF200/and35435_disk1of1/0073535435/and35435_pagefiles

4 Glossary of Grammatical Terms
SUPERLATIF (m.) (SUPERLATIVE) The form of adjectives or adverbs
used to describe nouns or actions to distinguish them above all others in
quality, quantity, or intensity. In English, the superlative is expressed by
using most or -est.
Elle a choisi la robe la plus chère.
She chose the most expensive dress.
Béatrice court le plus vite.
Béatrice runs the fastest.
SUBJONCTIF (m.) (SUBJUNCTIVE)See Mode.
SUJET (m.) (SUBJECT) The word(s) denoting the person, place, or
thing performing an action or existing in a state.
Mon ordinateur est là-bas.
My computer is over there.
Marc arrive demain.
Marc arrives tomorrow.
PROPOSITION (f.) (CLAUSE) A construction that contains a subject
and a verb.
Proposition principale (Main clause) A clause that stands on its
own and expresses a complete idea.
Proposition subordonnée (Subordinate clause) A clause that
cannot stand on its own because it does not express a complete idea.
Je cherche la femme qui joue au tennis.
I’m looking for the woman who plays tennis.
Je cherche la femme qui joue au tennis.
I’m looking for the woman who plays tennis.
PRONOM (m.) (PRONOUN) A word used in place of one or more
nouns.
Pronom accentué ou disjoint (Stressed or disjunctive pronoun)
In French, a pronoun used for emphasis or as the object of a
preposition.
Pronom démonstratif (Demonstrative pronoun) A pronoun that
singles out a particular person or thing.
Pronom d’objet (Object pronoun) A pronoun that replaces a direct
object noun or an indirect object noun.
Pronom interrogatif (Interrogative pronoun) A pronoun used to
ask a question.
Pronom réfléchi (Reflexive pronoun) A pronoun that represents the
same person as the subject of the verb.
Pronom relatif (Relative pronoun) A pronoun that introduces a
dependent clause and denotes a noun already mentioned (its
antecedent).
Pronom sujet (Subject pronoun) A pronoun representing the
person or thing performing the action of the verb.
Toi, tu es incroyable!
You are unbelievable!
Je travaille avec lui.
I work with him.
Voici deux livres: celui-ci est intéressant, mais
celui-là est ennuyeux.
Here are two books: this one is interesting, but
that one is boring.
direct: Je vois Alain. Je le vois.
I see Alain. I see him.
indirect: Je donne le livre à Daniel. Je lui
donne le livre.
I give the book to Daniel. I give him
the book.
Qui parle? Qu’est-ce que vous voulez?
Who is speaking? What do you want?
Je me regarde dans le miroir.
I am looking at myself in the mirror.
On parle à la femme qui habite ici.
We’re talking to the woman who lives here.
C’est le stylo que vous cherchez?
Is it the pen (that) you’re looking for?
Ils travaillent bien ensemble.
They work well together.
and35435_online.indd Page 4 14/12/10 4:33 PM user-f494and35435_online.indd Page 4 14/12/10 4:33 PM user-f494 /201/MHSF200/and35435_disk1of1/0073535435/and35435_pagefiles/201/MHSF200/and35435_disk1of1/0073535435/and35435_pagefiles

Glossary of Grammatical Terms 5
TEMPS (m.) (TENSE) The form of a verb indicating time: present, past,
or future.
VERBE (m.) (VERB) A word that reports an action or state.
Verbe auxiliaire (Auxiliary verb) A verb used in conjunction with
an infinitive or a participle to convey distinctions of tense and mood.
In French, the main auxiliaries are avoir and être.
Verbe impersonnel (Impersonal verb) A verb that always takes the
impersonal pronoun il as its grammatical subject.
Verbe pronominal (Pronominal verb) In French, a verb with a
reflexive pronoun as well as a subject pronoun in its conjugated
form. Its infinitive is preceded by se.
Elle est arrivée hier.
She arrived yesterday.
Elle était fatiguée.
She was tired.
J’ai fait mes devoirs.
I did my homework.
Nous sommes allés au cinéma.
We went to the movies.
Il fait beau aujourd’hui.
It is nice today.
Il faut travailler dur.
One has to work hard.
se souvenir, je me souviens
to remember, I remember
Il se coupe quand il se rase.
He cuts himself when he shaves (himself).
and35435_online.indd Page 5 14/12/10 4:33 PM user-f494and35435_online.indd Page 5 14/12/10 4:33 PM user-f494 /201/MHSF200/and35435_disk1of1/0073535435/and35435_pagefiles/201/MHSF200/and35435_disk1of1/0073535435/and35435_pagefiles